Combination heat sink and heat pipe assembly

ABSTRACT

A combination heat sink base and heat pipe assembly includes a top base plate having multiple female engagement members symmetrically located on a bottom wall thereof at two opposite lateral sides, heat pipe grooves located on the bottom wall and multiple mounting ribs and mounting grooves alternatively located on the bottom wall; a bottom base plate having multiple heat pipe grooves located on a top wall thereof to cooperate with the heat pipe grooves of the top base plate, multiple male engagement members symmetrically located on the top wall and respectively forced into engagement with the female engagement members of the top base plate and multiple mounting grooves and mounting ribs alternatively located on the top wall and respectively forced into engagement with the respective mounting ribs and mounting grooves of the top base plate; and heat pipes mounted and secured in the heat pipe grooves.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to heat sink technology, and more particularly to a combination heat sink base and heat pipe assembly for use to dissipate heat from a CPU or any other heat generating electronic component, which comprises a top heat sink base plate and a bottom heat sink base plate fastened together through a simple stamping process, and a plurality of heat pipes mounted in between the top and bottom heat sink base plates and firmly secured thereto after the sample stamping process.

(b) Description of the Prior Art

In a conventional heat pipe-attached heat sink assembly, the heat-absorbing ends of the heat pipes are bonded to the heat sink base (either inserted through the heat sink base or attached to bottom grooves in the flat bottom wall of the heat sink base, and the opposing heat-releasing ends of the heat pipes are connected to the radiation fin module. In application, the heat sink base is closely attached to a CPU or heat generating electronic component for transferring latent heat from the CPU or heat generating electronic component through the heat pipes to the radiation fin module for quick dissipation. The early mounting techniques are to perform welding to bond the heat pipes and the heat sink base together. Recent methods are to perform a fitting method. Heat pipes are press-fitted into respective heat pipe grooves on the heat sink base, enabling the surfaces of the heat pipes to be exposed to the outside of the surface of the heat sink base. Taiwan Patent M280631 discloses a tightly connected structure of a heat conducting block and a heat pipe, which comprises at least a heat conducting block and at least a heat pipe arranged and tightly connected with the heat conducting block. The heat conducting block is equipped with at least a group of holes on the body or a group of holes with retractable parts for the connection of the heat pipe in a passing method. By using processing tools and forced pressure, the heat conducting block can be pressed, distorted, to tightly connect the heat pipe with the heat conducting block, thereby improving the pressure combination and the yield of the manufacture, and the radiator with high radiating efficiency can be made. However, when exerting a pressure to the heat conducting block to press and distort the heat conducting block to tightly connect the heat pipe, the middle part of the heat conducting block can be curved, causing deformation of the heat conducting block. At this time, gaps can be created between the deformed heat conducting block and the heat pipe, leading to poor connection stability and poor heat dissipation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a combination heat sink base and heat pipe assembly, which comprises a heat sink base consisting of a top heat sink base plate and a bottom heat sink base plate, and a plurality of heat pipes mounted in between the top heat sink base plate and the bottom heat sink base plate. The top heat sink base plate comprises a plurality of female engagement members symmetrically located on a bottom wall thereof at two opposite lateral sides, and a plurality of heat pipe grooves located on the bottom wall and extended through opposing front and rear sides thereof for accommodating the heat pipes. The bottom heat sink base plate comprises a plurality of heat pipe grooves located on a top wall thereof and extended through opposing front and rear sides thereof to cooperate with the heat pipe grooves of the top heat sink base plate for accommodating the heat pipes respectively, and a plurality of male engagement members symmetrically located on the top wall and respectively forced into engagement with the female engagement members of the top heat sink base plate by stamping to secure the top heat sink base plate and the bottom heat sink base plate together and to hold on the heat pipes in the respective heat pipe grooves of the top heat sink base plate and the respective heat pipe grooves of the bottom heat sink base plate. Thus, the top and bottom heat sink base plates and the heat pipes can be rapidly and tightly fastened together without producing gaps between top and bottom heat sink base plates and the heat pipes, thus achieving optimal heat transfer and dissipation, effects.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the top heat sink base plate further comprises a plurality of mounting ribs and a plurality of mounting grooves alternatively located on the bottom wall between each two adjacent heat pipe grooves of the top heat sink base plate; the bottom heat sink base plate further comprises a plurality of mounting grooves and a plurality of mounting ribs alternatively located on the top wall between each two adjacent said heat pipe grooves of the bottom heat sink base plate and respectively forced into engagement with the respective mounting ribs and the respective mounting grooves of the top heat sink base plate by stamping. Thus, the applied stamping pressure in the stamping procedure can be evenly distributed through the top and bottom heat sink base plates and the heat pipes, preventing deformation of the top and bottom heat sink base plates and ensuring tight connection between the top and bottom heat sink base plates and the heat pipes.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the mounting grooves of the top heat sink base plate and the mounting grooves of the bottom heat sink base plate are oblique grooves that incline at a predetermined angle. During the stamping process, the mounting ribs of the top or bottom heat sink base plate are deformed and forced into tight engagement with the respective mounting grooves of the bottom or top heat sink base plate, enhancing connection stability and tightness between the top and bottom heat sink base plates and the heat pipes.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the male engagement members of the bottom heat sink base plate can be configured to exhibit a double-pin design or single-pin design, each comprising two or one single upright pin; the female engagement members of the top heat sink base plate can be configured to exhibit a double-groove design or single-groove design, each comprising two grooves or one single groove for engagement with the respective upright pins of the male engagement members of the top heat sink base plate.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the grooves of the female engagement members of the top heat sink base plate are oblique grooves that incline at a predetermined angle. During the stamping process, the upright pins of the male engagement members of the bottom heat sink base plate are deformed and forced into tight engagement with the respective grooves of the female engagement members of the top heat sink base plate, enhancing connection stability and tightness between the top and bottom heat sink base plates and the heat pipes.

Other advantages and features of the present invention will be fully understood by reference to the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference signs denote like components of structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a combination heat sink base and heat pipe assembly in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic exploded front view of the combination heat sink base and heat pipe assembly in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 corresponds to FIG. 2, illustrating the top heat sink base plate, the heat pipes and the bottom heat sink base plate fastened together.

FIG. 4 is a schematic exploded view of a part of the present invention, illustrating the relationship between one female engagement member of the top heat sink base plate and the mating male engagement member of the bottom heat sink base plate.

FIG. 5 corresponds to FIG. 4, illustrating the female engagement member of the top heat sink base plate engaged with the mating male engagement member of the bottom heat sink base plate.

FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 4, illustrating an alternate form of the female engagement member of the top heat sink base plate and an alternate form of the mating male engagement member of the bottom heat sink base plate.

FIG. 7 corresponds to FIG. 6, illustrating the female engagement member of the top heat sink base plate engaged with the mating male engagement member of the bottom heat sink base plate.

FIG. 8 is a schematic exploded view of a part of the present invention, illustrating the relationship between one mounting groove of the top heat sink base plate and the mating mounting rib of the bottom heat sink base plate.

FIG. 9 corresponds to FIG. 8, illustrating the mounting groove of the top heat sink base plate engaged with the mating mounting rib of the bottom heat sink base plate.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the present invention in application, illustrating the heat-absorbing ends of the heat pipes mounted between the top heat sink base plate and the bottom heat sink base plate and the heat-releasing ends of the heat pipes mounted in a radiation fin module.

FIG. 11 is a top view of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a left side view of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a front view of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a combination heat sink base and heat pipe assembly in accordance with the present invention is shown. The combination heat sink base and heat pipe assembly comprises a heat sink base consisting of a top heat sink base plate 1 and a bottom heat sink base plate 2, and a plurality of heat pipes 3 mounted between the top heat sink base plate 1 and the bottom heat sink base plate 2. The top heat sink base plate 1 comprises a plurality of female engagement members 11 symmetrically located on a bottom wall thereof at two opposite lateral sides, and a plurality of heat pipe grooves 12 located on the bottom wall and extended through opposing front and rear sides thereof for accommodating the heat pipes 3. The bottom heat sink base plate comprises a plurality of male engagement members 21 symmetrically located on a top wall thereof at two opposite lateral sides corresponding to the female engagement members 11 of the top heat sink base plate 1, and a plurality of heat pipe grooves 22 located on the top wall and extended through opposing front and rear sides thereof to cooperate with the heat pipe grooves 12 of the top heat sink base plate 1 for accommodating the heat pipes 3. In installation, the heat pipes 3 are respectively positioned in the heat pipe grooves 12 and 22 between the top heat sink base plate 1 and the bottom heat sink base plate 2, and then a stamping procedure is employed to force the female engagement members 11 of the top heat sink base plate 1 into engagement with the respective male engagement members 21 of the bottom heat sink base plate 2, and thus, the top heat sink base plate 1, the bottom heat sink base plate 2 and the heat pipes 3 are fixedly and tightly fastened together.

As stated above, the top heat sink base plate 1 and the bottom heat sink base plate 2 are fastened together by means of forcing the female engagement members 11 into engagement with the respective male engagement members 21 using a stamping technique. This mounting procedure ensures secure surface-to-surface contact between the top and bottom heat sink base plates 1 and 2 and the heat pipes 3.

The top heat sink base plate 1 further comprises a plurality of mounting ribs 14 and mounting grooves 13 alternatively located on the bottom wall between each two adjacent heat pipe grooves 12 and extended through the opposing front and rear sides thereof (see FIG. 2). The bottom heat sink base plate 2 further comprises a plurality of mounting grooves 23 and mounting ribs 24 alternatively located on the top wall between each two adjacent heat pipe grooves 22 and extended through the opposing front and rear sides thereof (see FIG. 2). When employing the aforesaid stamping procedure after positioning the heat pipes 3 in the heat pipe grooves 12 and 22 between the top heat sink base plate 1 and the bottom heat sink base plate 2, the female engagement members 11 of the top heat sink base plate 1 are forced into engagement with the respective male engagement members 21 of the bottom heat sink base plate 2, and at the same time, the mounting ribs 14 and mounting grooves 13 of the top heat sink base plate 1 are respectively forced into engagement with the mounting grooves 23 and mounting ribs 24 of the bottom heat sink base plate 2 (see FIG. 3), and thus, the top heat sink base plate 1, the bottom heat sink base plate 2 and the heat pipes 3 are fixedly and tightly fastened together.

As the mounting ribs 14 and mounting grooves 13 of the top heat sink base plate 1 are alternatively located on the bottom wall between each two adjacent heat pipe grooves 12, and the mounting grooves 23 and mounting ribs 24 of the bottom heat sink base plate 2 are alternatively located on the top wall between each two adjacent heat pipe grooves 22 for engagement with the mounting ribs 14 and mounting grooves 13 of the top heat sink base plate 1 respectively, the stamping pressure applied in the stamping procedure can be evenly distributed through the top and bottom heat sink base plates 1 and 2 and the heat pipes 3, preventing deformation of the top and bottom heat sink base plates 1 and 2 and ensuring tight connection between the top and bottom heat sink base plates 1 and 2 and the heat pipes 3.

Referring to FIG. 4, in one embodiment of the present invention, the male engagement members 21 of the bottom heat sink base plate 2 exhibit a double-pin design, each comprising two upright pins 211; the female engagement members 11 of the top heat sink base plate 1 exhibit a double-groove design, each comprising two oblique grooves 111 that extend inwardly toward the inside of the top heat sink base plate 1 at a predetermined angle of inclination θ1 relative to the normal line between the two oblique grooves 111. In the stamping process, the upright pins 211 of the male engagement members 21 of the bottom heat sink base plate 2 are respectively deformed and forced into the respective oblique grooves 111 of the female engagement members 11 of the top heat sink base plate 1 to achieve tight engagement (see FIG. 5), thereby enhancing connection stability and tightness between the top and bottom heat sink base plates 1 and 2 and the heat pipes 3.

In another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the male engagement members 21 a of the bottom heat sink base plate 2 exhibit a single-pin design, each comprising one single upright pin 211; the female engagement members 11 a of the top heat sink base plate 1 exhibit a single-groove design, each comprising one single oblique groove 111 that extends inwardly toward the inside of the top heat sink base plate 1 at a predetermined angle of inclination θ1. In the stamping process, the upright pins 211 of the male engagement members 21 a of the bottom heat sink base plate 2 are respectively deformed and forced into the respective oblique grooves 111 of the female engagement members 11 a of the top heat sink base plate 1 to achieve tight engagement, thereby enhancing connection stability and tightness between the top and bottom heat sink base plates 1 and 2 and the heat pipes 3.

Referring to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the mounting grooves 13 of the top heat sink base plate 1 and the mounting grooves 23 of the bottom heat sink base plate 2 are oblique grooves that incline at a predetermined angle of inclination θ2. In the aforesaid stamping process; the mounting ribs 14 of the top heat sink base plate 1 and the mounting ribs 24 of the bottom heat sink base plate 2 are upright ribs. In the aforesaid stamping process, the mounting ribs 14 and mounting grooves 13 of the top heat sink base plate 1 are respectively forced into engagement with the mounting grooves 23 and mounting ribs 24 of the bottom heat sink base plate 2, thus enhancing connection stability and tightness between the top and bottom heat sink base plates 1 and 2 and the heat pipes 3.

Further, the heat pipe grooves 12 and 22 of the top and bottom heat sink base plates 1 and 2 have a semi-circular cross section. After the top heat sink base plate 1 and the bottom heat sink base plate 2 are connected, each heat pipe groove 12 of the top heat sink base plate 1 cooperates with one respective heat pipe groove 22 of the bottom heat sink base plates 2 to form a circular hole of a diameter slightly smaller than (or equal to) the outer diameter of the heat pipes 3. Thus, the heat pipes 3 can be tightly fitted into the circular holes that are formed of the heat pipe grooves 12 and 22 of the top and bottom heat sink base plates 1 and 2.

Referring to FIGS. 10-13, in application, the heat-absorbing ends of the heat pipes 3 are mounted in the heat pipe grooves 12 and 22 and tightly secured in place between the top heat sink base plate 1 and the bottom heat sink base plate 2, and the opposing heat-releasing ends of the heat pipes 3 extend out of the top heat sink base plate 1 and the bottom heat sink base plate 2 in a parallel manner and fastened to a radiation fin module 4. The connection between the heat pipes 3 and the radiation fin module 4 can easily be achieved using conventional techniques without specific restrictions. Therefore, no further detailed description in this regard will be necessary.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A combination heat sink base and heat pipe assembly, comprising a heat sink base consisting of a top heat sink base plate and a bottom heat sink base plate and a plurality of heat pipes mounted in said heat sink base between said top heat sink base plate and said bottom heat sink base plate, wherein: said top heat sink base plate comprises a plurality of female engagement members symmetrically located on a bottom wall thereof at two opposite lateral sides, and a plurality of heat pipe grooves located on said bottom wall and extended through opposing front and rear sides thereof for accommodating said heat pipes; said bottom heat sink base plate comprises a plurality of heat pipe grooves located on a top wall thereof and extended through opposing front and rear sides thereof to cooperate with the said heat pipe grooves of said top heat sink base plate for accommodating said heat pipes respectively, and a plurality of male engagement members symmetrically located on said top wall and respectively forced into engagement with said female engagement members of said top heat sink base plate to secure said top heat sink base plate and said bottom heat sink base plate together and hold on said heat pipes in the respective said heat pipe grooves of said top heat sink base plate and the respective said heat pipe grooves of said bottom heat sink base plate.
 2. The combination heat sink base and heat pipe assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said top heat sink base plate further comprises a plurality of mounting ribs and a plurality of mounting grooves respectively located on said bottom wall between each two adjacent said heat pipe grooves of said top heat sink base plate; said bottom heat sink base plate further comprises a plurality of mounting grooves and a plurality of mounting ribs respectively located on said top wall between each two adjacent said heat pipe grooves of said bottom heat sink base plate and respectively forced into engagement with the respective said mounting ribs and said mounting grooves of said top heat sink base plate.
 3. The combination heat sink base and heat pipe assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the said mounting ribs and mounting grooves of said top heat sink base plate are alternatively located on said bottom wall between each two adjacent said heat pipe grooves of said top heat sink base plate; the said mounting grooves and mounting ribs of said bottom heat sink base plate are alternatively located on said top wall between each two adjacent said heat pipe grooves of said bottom heat sink base plate.
 4. The combination heat sink base and heat pipe assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the said mounting grooves of said top heat sink base plate and the said mounting grooves of said bottom heat sink base plate are oblique grooves that incline at a predetermined angle of inclination.
 5. The combination heat sink base and heat pipe assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said male engagement members of said bottom heat sink base plate exhibit a double-pin design, each comprising two upright pins; the said female engagement members of said top heat sink base plate exhibit a double-groove design, each comprising two grooves for engagement with the respective said two upright pins of one respective said male engagement member.
 6. The combination heat sink base and heat pipe assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the said grooves of said female engagement members of said top heat sink base plate are oblique grooves that incline at a predetermined angle of inclination.
 7. The combination heat sink base and heat pipe assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said male engagement members of said bottom heat sink base plate exhibit a single-pin design, each comprising one single upright pin; the said female engagement members of said top heat sink base plate exhibit a single-groove design, each comprising one single groove for engagement with the said upright pin of one respective said male engagement member.
 8. The combination heat sink base and heat pipe assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the said grooves of said female engagement members of said top heat sink base plate are oblique grooves that incline at a predetermined angle of inclination.
 9. The combination heat sink base and heat pipe assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said heat pipes has one end thereof terminating in a respective heat-absorbing end and mounted in one respective said heat pipe groove of said top heat sink base plate and one respective said heat pipe groove of said bottom heat sink base plate, and an opposite end thereof terminating in a respective heat-releasing end and mounted in a radiation fin module.
 10. The combination heat sink base and heat pipe assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said heat pipe grooves of said top heat sink base plate and said bottom heat sink base plate have a semi-circular cross section so that each said heat pipe groove of said top heat sink base plate cooperates with one respective said heat pipe groove of said bottom heat sink base plates to form a circular hole. 